SGEIRS -Chapter 69 A Heartless Man

“Madam Shen’s old illness has flared up, and it’s come on violently. I visited her yesterday, and the doctor said… that she probably… doesn’t have much time left.”

Song Xinning’s voice choked halfway through, her eyes already brimming with tears, which soon slid down her cheeks. “Heaven really isn’t fair. Madam Shen is such a good person—why does she have to fall ill, and not some wicked person?”

Meng Jinyao’s expression changed sharply. She quickly took out a handkerchief, wiping her friend’s tears while asking, “A-Ning, I saw Madam Shen a month ago, and she was perfectly fine. How could her old illness suddenly flare up?”

Song Xinning sniffled, her tone full of resentment. “It’s normal that you didn’t know. The Shen family kept it secret, and this all happened just in the past few days. Master Shen’s concubine is pregnant—twins, I hear. Master Shen couldn’t bear for the children to be hidden away as concubine’s offspring, so he brought the concubine home and made her a proper secondary wife. Madam Shen had a huge fight with him, and then fell ill.”

Meng Jinyao’s eyes widened in shock.

Master and Madam Shen were considered a model couple that everyone envied. In the past, Master Shen’s household only had Madam Shen—no concubines. He was one in a hundred good men. Yet suddenly, he secretly took a concubine who even became pregnant?

“A-Yao, you’re shocked too, right?” Song Xinning’s tears fell even faster. Her sense of reality collapsed. “They were clearly such a happy couple, in harmony for nearly twenty years. Last time I visited the Shen family, they still seemed so loving. But it was all fake… Master Shen was pretending. Taking care of a concubine while acting devoted to Madam Shen.”

Meng Jinyao was silent, feeling pity for Madam Shen’s heartfelt devotion—misplaced love that led to such a tragic end.

And Master Shen’s so-called devotion was ironic indeed. He could pretend to be loving even while secretly keeping a concubine—why couldn’t he keep up the act forever? Perhaps because the concubine was carrying twins, and he chose to hurt his wife rather than let the children be hidden concubine offspring?

Perhaps all men are this heartless.

All her life, the only man she had ever seen show true devotion was her friend A-Ning’s future father-in-law. And now, that “devoted man” had made his wife sick with grief and brought home a concubine.

After a moment, Meng Jinyao’s eyes also grew moist. She reached out, hugging her tearful friend, soothing her with a gentle voice: “A-Ning, don’t cry. Matters concerning the elders are beyond our control. What you can do now is comfort Madam Shen and help her relax—this will aid her recovery.”

Song Xinning choked on her words. “I don’t even know how to comfort Madam Shen. She keeps regretting that she went against her family to marry Master Shen. She hates herself for misjudging him, for helping him so much, only to end up working for someone else’s benefit.”

Meng Jinyao recalled what A-Ning had told her before: Master Shen had been a poor scholar, while Madam Shen was the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Madam Shen had fallen in love with him at first sight and married him despite her parents’ objections.

With the support of Madam Shen’s family, Master Shen could continue his studies, achieve top scores, and enter government service.

Without Madam Shen, Master Shen would not have been where he was today.

The fact that Master Shen secretly took a concubine was likely related to his promotion last year. Before that, he was a fifth-rank official; after contributing to a major waterworks project, a position as third-rank Minister of Works became available, and he was promoted.

The difference between a fifth-rank and a third-rank official is enormous. Fifth- and fourth-rank officials usually need their wives’ families to support them financially, while a third-rank official no longer needs such help. Now, the wife’s family seeks to curry favor with him.

Perhaps all the affection people had seen was just a facade. Master Shen may never have truly loved Madam Shen—he loved the wealth of her family.

At that thought, Meng Jinyao shivered. What kind of scheming mind could maintain a false image for so many years? A man willing to do anything to achieve his goal is more terrifying than any predator.

She swallowed and whispered softly, “A-Ning, maybe Madam Shen’s devotion was misplaced from the very start.”

Song Xinning, confused, stammered, “W-what do you mean?”

Meng Jinyao replied, “Perhaps Master Shen never truly cared for Madam Shen. He only pretended to love her because there was something to gain. Now that he holds high office, he no longer needs Madam Shen’s family’s help, so his true nature shows.”

Song Xinning drew a sharp breath, the thought more frightening than if he had simply changed his mind. Remembering Master Shen’s refined and gentle demeanor, she suddenly felt uneasy.

“Of course, this is just speculation,” Meng Jinyao added after a pause. “After all these years, they probably did develop some feelings for each other. He may have liked Madam Shen once, but love fades when desire fades, and his heart changed.”

Song Xinning preferred this latter possibility, nodding quietly. “It must be that love faded as desire waned.”

After a moment, she furrowed her brows, worried. “A-Yao, do you think the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree? Could Master Shen’s son be like his father? He likes me now, but when I age and lose my looks, he’ll secretly take a concubine and bring her back, pregnant, to be his second wife?”

Meng Jinyao was momentarily stunned, then shook her head firmly, soothing her gently. “Silly girl, why are you imagining such things? Young Master Shen and his father are different. Think about it—you and Young Master Shen grew up together. Over the years, how has he treated you? He indulges you in everything. If you wanted the stars from the sky, he’d probably try to get them for you.”

Song Xinning continued, “But my father and mother were always harmonious, and yet my father still took a concubine.”

Meng Jinyao knew her friend had been deeply shocked, scared by the thought of concubines. But she believed Young Master Shen wasn’t that kind of man. Softly, she said, “A-Ning, trust Young Master Shen a little more. He doesn’t even have a personal maid, and most men at twenty-two would already have one.”

Hearing this, Song Xinning’s anxious heart gradually calmed. Their marriage had been arranged two years ago. She would have married at sixteen, but her mother delayed it. Young Master Shen waited a year, and now it seemed he truly cared for her, unlike his father.

Meng Jinyao continued comforting her friend, stabilizing her emotions. Yet, with thoughts on her mind, she barely ate despite the spread of dishes before them.

From the news she heard, Meng Jinyao also sensed that Madam Shen probably didn’t have much time left. If Madam Shen were to pass away, Young Master Shen would have to observe a three-year mourning period, delaying their wedding. But for a couple in love, as long as their hearts were together, a delay wouldn’t matter.

Still, she hoped Madam Shen would recover, regain her health, and that A-Ning’s wedding could proceed as planned.